Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
JULIUS
“You’re…Connie? I mean, Constantine.”
He nods. Well, he’s definitely not what I had expected when Fletcher told me he had a friend who was perfect to help me in the coffee shop.
“Sorry, I don’t know much about you. Fletcher just gave me your number and said I should call you, so I did.”
He laughs. “And you did what he said just like that?”
“What can I say, I’m good at following directions.” I cringe when Constantine’s smile goes from amused to interested.
“Good to know. Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dodge your calls. Fletcher said you were looking for help and that you’d call, but I’ve had a lot on my plate this year, and I wasn’t ready to move to the East Coast.”
I’m not looking for help. I’m desperate for it. The good, non-fire-setting kind, which, judging by these brownies alone, Constantine is it.
“And you’re ready now?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? Do you want to tell me about the job? Again, Fletcher didn’t say much except that I’m the man for the job—as proven by the amazing brownie you just tasted—and that the job comes with accommodation.”
Accommodation? Well, this is news to me.
“Accommodation…right.” I pretend to look at my watch. “Give me a moment. I’ll be right back.”
I leave the kitchen, pulling my phone out to call Fletcher.
“Julius, please don’t tell me you’re calling because your new helper set fire to the kitchen. I need the brownies, dude. George and Megan are having a sleepover with their friends, and if I can’t supply the goods, there will be a riot. As it is, Harrison is not happy that I agreed to this sleepover when we were supposed to have the weekend to ourselves.”
“Hmm, I know how he feels.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you tell Conn—Constantine—that the job here comes with accommodation?”
“Um…yes? You said you were moving back into your new place and the apartment above Bittersweet would be free. You talked about renting it out. Remember when Sage said you could use it for hookups? Or, more precisely, for his hookups.”
I sigh. “I remember.”
“And that was what, a year ago. Wait—has he…finally taken your call?”
Oh shit, I think I’ve put my giant foot in my equally giant mouth. “Yeah…kinda.”
“Okay, is it going to be a problem? I mean, you’re not living in the apartment, are you?”
“No. It’s not a problem.” As long as Constantine doesn’t mind sharing a tiny one-bedroom apartment with his kid and a big dude. I guess I’m moving back home. No point delaying the inevitable. “I was just caught by surprise, that’s all.”
“Okay. Harrison is picking up the brownies on his way home from work. Can you add two slices of your carrot cake to the order? It’s the only way I can make it up to my husband for cockblocking him with a bunch of kids.”
“Sure. It’ll be ready for pick up.” Thanks to your friend. The friend who clearly hasn’t told you he’s in town.
I end the call and turn back to the kitchen. Constantine is bent over the island, looking at something on his phone. He has my notebook open and my pen hovering over something he’s already written down.
It should annoy me that he’s making himself at home in my kitchen, but it doesn’t. Quite the opposite. He looks like the space was made for him. I always feel too big for it and prefer to be behind the counter talking to my customers.
Baking is something I’m good at and enjoy, but it’s not my passion. It’s just a handy talent.
“So…” I start.
When he looks up, he smiles. His tongue pokes out from the corner of his mouth and my eyes zero in on it as it disappears again.
My eyes meet his, and I know I’ve been caught staring.
“So…” He tilts his head to the side.
“About the accommodation. I’m kinda living in it.”
His face drops.
“You can have it,” I add quickly. “It’s a small one-bedroom apartment upstairs. I’ve been staying there because…it doesn’t matter. I’ll just need to grab a few things, change the sheets, and then it’s yours.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to kick you out of your own place. Fletcher mentioned?—”
“You’re not kicking me out. I have a house, but most days, it’s easier staying here.” Not to mention that apart from my bedroom, the whole place is in severe need of a good renovation, which is something I don’t have the time or energy for. Maybe with Constantine here, I can finally get the work started.
“Oh, okay. If you’re sure. I know we showed up out of the blue, and you didn’t know about Leo.”
“Your kid?”
He raises a brow. “Eesh, I know I look as tired as I feel, but I don’t think I look old enough to be my brother’s dad.”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed.”
He waves me off. “It’s fine. He looks younger than he is and weirdly like me, considering we have different dads. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.”
He mutters the last part to himself. It’s a strange thing to say, but I don’t want to pry. For some reason, Constantine Galanis decided to come to Stillwater to work for me. The kid is an unexpected addition, but it doesn’t bother me. I love kids.
“The couch opens into a bed?—”
“Hey, Julius.” Harrison calling my name interrupts the conversation.
“I’ll be out in a sec,” I say, poking my head out of the kitchen door and then turning to Constantine. “That’s Harrison, Fletcher’s husband.”
He tenses, but I hold my hand up. “I spoke to Fletcher. He doesn’t know you’re here, does he?”
Constantine shakes his head.
“If you’re staying, you’ll have to tell him because he’s a regular and a friend. For now, can you put the brownies in a box? That’s what Harrison’s here for.”
I point to the pile of Bittersweet cake boxes on the shelf and go out to give Harrison a coffee to go. Hopefully, the distraction will work.
Constantine’s brother comes back a moment after Harrison leaves.
“Hey. Good walk?” I ask him.
“Yeah.”
“Your brother is in the kitchen.”
He nods, and with his hands in his pockets and his head held slightly low, like he’s trying to make himself invisible, he walks through the space next to the cooler and into the kitchen.
An almost-fire in my kitchen followed by the new kid quitting? I can’t say I didn’t expect it to happen.
Constantine and his brother Leo? One hundred percent unexpected but not unwelcome.
That feeling I got in my belly seeing Constantine in my kitchen? Well…I probably shouldn’t think about it too hard. I have the help I need and that’s that.
It’s been a long time since someone’s knocked me off my feet. Constantine is capable in the kitchen—something that will never not be sexy for me—and he’s also very much my type. Small but not breakable.
I should probably find a hookup before I do something stupid.